Choosing Where to livee!

<p>Hello! So I’m planning on double majoring at Boston University with Finance (SMG) and mass communication at COM. . I know most of the incoming freshmen live in warren and west but I was wondering if the two schools were located on opposite sides of campus. I have yet to take a visit to campus but I’ve heard that a lot of the good eateries along with the workout facilities are located close to West. Would it be a good idea to live at West campus or would another dorm such as Warren be more suitable?? Thanks</p>

<p>Do you like convenience? Are you planning to roll out of bed with just enough time to get to class? Are you someone who plans to use the gym frequently? West Campus is a hike to SMG and COM. Warren is next door to COM and close to SMG. However, having lived on one end of campus and having my classes on the other end of BU, you get used to the walk and it’s actually quite nice to walk on good days. West Campus is where the gym is and near the Agganis Center to watch sporting events/concerts. Warren is closer to Kenmore Square that has quite a few restaurant options and close to Fenway Park, if you want to see a Red Sox game. Both dorms have dining halls in the building. My son is currently a freshmen at BU and chose living in Warren for convenience. He likes being able to head back to his room between classes. If you live at West, you would probably choose to head down to class and then kill time in the Union, Library or school lounges instead of heading back to West. </p>

<p>One other consideration, since you are planning to major in business and communication, Warren has the specialty floors for these majors. So, if you would like to live with people who are interested in the same major as you, you might want to consider Warren. </p>

<p>wow I didn’t even know about that! thanks, I’m really at a loss in terms of having any sort of clue as to where I would like to live in the fall haha. Any information anyone could provide me with would be much appreciated. COM is located on east campus also, correct?</p>

<p>Would you consider both COM and SMG to be closer to or past warren dorms or is one more or a central location to west campus dorms also? I do like the convenience of rolling out of bed but at the same time I hope I can plan my classes late enough in the morning that it wont be a struggle to get out of bed either way (11 am). I really do love concerts and working out so west campus does appeal to me, are there any other freshmen living options I should give more thought to which meet both characteristics of being close to SMG/COM and also closer to Agganis and the FitRec? thanks!</p>

<p>SMG and COM are both closer to Warren. There are some older threads about freshman dorms; if you do a search, you will find them. IMHO, for convenience (especially in the winter months when it is cold and windy), I would go with Warren. </p>

<p>I am currently a freshmen in SMG and I live in Warren. Last year I was also debating between West and Warren, so I know the feeling! To put things in perspective, COM is right next to Warren and SMG is basically across the street from COM. None of them are anywhere near West Campus…all of them are actually a 15 minute walk away from West (I would suggest google mapping Warren so that you can see exactly where the buildings are. The address is 700 Commonwealth Avenue). </p>

<p>I’m the sort of person who rolls out of bed half an hour before class starts, so although I knew that West had a more campusy feel and was closer to FitRec/Nickerson, it wouldn’t have been practical for me to live there. Honestly, I would not change my decision! I love being able to go back to my dorm between classes to just relax or take a nap. Living in West would not have allowed me to do that…there’s always the option of taking the BU Bus, but I’ve never quite mastered the schedule–I hate waiting for it to arrive or missing it by a few seconds. I like the freedom or being able to just walk back to my dorm in a few minutes without having to worry about the bus schedule. As a COM/SMG student, you will be spending a lot of time in east campus, so either be prepared for that walk everyday or master the bus schedule (which admittedly isn’t as hard as I’m making it out to be). I also liked how Warren has common rooms on each floor. West doesn’t, so it might be a bit harder to bond with the people on your floor.</p>

<p>Warren’s not perfect though and it definitely has its flaws. Living so far away from FItRec definitely discourages me from going to the gym…not that I did before, but I probably get less exercise than people living in West (however, in my defense, a majority of the sports kids live in West). If you’re highly motivated though this won’t be a problem for you. Also, the food in the West dining hall is much better than the food in the Warren dining hall. </p>

<p>West is also closer to Allston (less than a 5 minute walk), which is where all the parties are. If you’re a big partier, West is the place to be. Living in Warren I usually have to take the T or walk in the freezing cold for 20 minutes just to get to a party. BU has very strict housing policies, which is why there are rarely (if any) parties on campus. Don’t get me wrong though, A LOT of people in Warren love to party, so there will always be a group of people willing to take the trek to Allston with you.</p>

<p>Of all my friends/classmates at SMG, I’d say that a fair number of them live in West (more than I thought there would be). So, whether you pick Warren or West you can’t go wrong…no one I’ve talked to has regretted their decision. Pick what fits your needs best and you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>Are you planning to visit campus during re-visit days? There are tours of both Warren and West. Warren is a huge dorm and it’s a bit “cell like.” I actually liked West better but for my son, it was all about convenience and he has been happy that he chose Warren. My son plays club frisbee and his practices are at night. Many of the team live at either Warren or Towers so that there is always someone to walk to and from FitRec/Nickerson field. There are also other options as well you might want to pursue. I believe Towers on Bay State houses the SMG specialty floors. Like Warren, it will be closer to SMG and COM. It is a smaller dorm, if “big” is intimidating but I found actual dorm rooms to be much smaller than either Warren or West… This dorm also no longer has a dining hall. I think you will get a better feel when you visit, which you should definitely do before orientation, since you will receive your dorm assignments in July.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for replying! I think if I move into west and grow accustomed to the walk it wont be so bad. Other students I know on campus currently have made it known to be that if I live in west a T pass for the semester would be the best bet a long with getting to know the campus shuttle schedule quite well which both sound very doable to me. I would love to have the close and better dining hall and also love to have the fitrec as close as possible. Forcing myself to live in west will allow me to get the best amenities of west campus while at the same time being much a part of east campus since all of my classes will be over that side. Also I do like to party and that will be nice being closer to that side of campus.
Ive heard that the campus police is pretty strict about allowing you to bring guests into your dorm is that true?? Also I’m a pretty big guy about 6’0 180lbs and eat a bit, any suggestions as to which meal plan I should go for. I hear it’s pretty easy to switch that around during the year, should I start off with the 14 and points or the unlimited, or just a completely different plan. thanks for all of the advice!!! its much appreciated!!</p>

<p>Yes, definitely get a T pass if you will be living in West. The T is very convenient for getting around, not just around campus, but everywhere in the city.
Not sure about the meal plans because I can’t remember what the options were when I went there. If you are going to be out and about a lot and eating at different places, you probably want to chose something that gives you meals + points.</p>

<p>Oops…double post somehow.</p>

<p>They’re a lot less strict about dorm guests than a few years ago. If you want to bring a friend from another school, you have to fill out a form and hand their ID to the security guard. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t recommend getting a T pass specifically if you’re living in West Campus. You will generally end up walking or getting the shuttle as the T can be unreliable with coming exactly on schedule. However I would get a Charlie Card anyway to load money on! </p>

<p>As far as meal plans go, if you like to eat, go with the unlimited - it allows you to swipe into the dining hall as much as you want. However, if you know you’re not going to be near a dining hall a lot, you can get different plans that give you more points. Don’t worry too much - you can change this until November!</p>